Legendary pro wrestling champ Sting is expected to retire from the ring. After sustaining a neck injury during a World Heavyweight Championship match at the Night of Champions pay-per-view last September, the longtime wrestling icon will reportedly announce his retirement during his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame next month.
Sting competed against Seth Rollins during the Night of Champions where they faced off for the World Heavyweight Championship title. Sting (real name Steve Borden) sustained two injuries when he was slammed onto the turnbuckles at the corner of the ring, hitting his neck in two places, and was visibly impaired during the remainder of the match.
Now sources close to the 56-year-old wrestling legend say he was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis and revealed that several doctors have advised that the champ refrain from getting back in the ring. Sting is expected to make his retirement announcement during his induction ceremony into the WWE Hall of Fame in April, where he will be inducted by fellow pro wrestling legend Ric Flair. Last December, Sting made an appearance on Flair's "WOOOOO! Nation" podcast and opened up about what went wrong during his match with Rollins.
"Obviously that night I had some problems," Sting told Flair. "I mean, both buckle bumps - not Seth's fault - completely mine. I have no idea what I did, but my neck whiplashed on both of them. And on the second one, he picked me up and I'm having a casual conversation in my own mind as I'm hoisted up on his shoulders thinking, 'OK Steve, tuck your chin, I mean do what you know how to do. This is ridiculous.' And I wasn't even worried at all."
He explained that on the first turnbuckle impact, he felt a numb tingling sensation down to his fingertips on his left and right side. On the second turnbuckle impact, he lost all strength in his leg and collapsed in the middle of the ring. After he saw WWE medical director Dr. Joseph C. Maroon in Pittsburgh, the doctor, who has also treated fellow WWE star John Cena, advised that Sting undergo surgery to repair the damage.
Reports claimed that although Sting will have to hang up his singlet for good, he is open to taking on a non-physical role in the WWE.
The WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set to take place on Saturday, April 2 at 8 p.m. and will be available to stream exclusively on the WWE Network.
